"so that"

[Skammer]

I’m editing a formal document which contains the sentence,

“[Documentation] should be sent as soon as possible so that supplemental pay is not delayed.”

Is using so that preferable to just saying so? I wanted to change it to,

“Documentation should be sent as soon as possible so supplemental pay is not delayed.”

But… now that I look at them side by side, it seems that “so that” unambiguously means “in order that;” while “so” could mean “therefore.”

Any grammar Nazis around to weigh in?

[Keeve]

Similarly, I’ve long wondered about “based on” vs. “based upon”. There’s gotta be a website which explains these differences. Any ideas?

[Hampshire]

How about
“Documentation should be sent as soon as possible to avoid supplemental pay being delayed.”

[Gary_T]

@Skammer

But… now that I look at them side by side, it seems that “so that” unambiguously means “in order that;” while “so” could mean “therefore.”

This was my first thought. While in context it’s unlikely “so” would be misunderstood, it seems to me it leads to a slight pause for the brain to process it. “So that” is clear, crisp, and not unnecessarily verbose, and would be my choice.

[KneadToKnow]

@Hampshire

How about
“Documentation should be sent as soon as possible to avoid supplemental pay being delayed.”

Clearer still: “You get your money when we get our documentation.”

[pulykamell]

@Keeve

Similarly, I’ve long wondered about “based on” vs. “based upon”.

Pretty sure these are exactly synonymous. Same with “so” vs “so that” in meaning “in order that.” It’s just the longer phrases sound a little more formal.

While I don’t have any definitive sources, I could find these notes online:

So or so that
1. consequently: It was raining, so we did not go out.
2. in order that: I am saving money
so I can buy a bicycle.
Note: When used with the meaning in order that, so is usually followed by that in formal English.
e.g. I am saving money so that I can buy a bicycle.

And a thread here:

[F]rom what I can find both can be used interchangeably without any issues. So there is no difference between the two. They are idiomatic and do mean the same thing.

Those reflect my understanding of the phrases.

[Skammer]

Thanks for the replies. “So that” may be clearer and in any case is not improper, so (therefore) I will keep it.